Outrigger advice needed

[dog4]

Hi there,

I'm new on this forum having bought a '92 S3c a little while back. The S (my girlfriend insists on nicknaming him Trevor. I know...) runs well generally and has just survived a 500 mile weekend in beautiful British February conditions..

Nonetheless, at the time of purchase I knew there were problems with the front outriggers (holes you can get a few finger tips into on each side) and the price was reduced accordingly. But I do need to get these repaired asap. And certainly before spring comes.

I'm not sure whether the rust is more wide-spread. It could well be. I'm hoping that it is front outriggers only and the body can be jacked up while this is repaired. but who knows..

What I really need is a recommendation for:

- a good TVR mechanic that knows how to fix this / preferably done it before
- that is passionate about these cars ideally
- will give me a good price, whatever the size of the job
- is not too far from London

Very appreciative of any advice. Names, numbers, what he has done for you etc..

cheers
Tom

[GreenV8S]

You're in luck because there are plenty of TVR specialists around London. If you're on the North side then give Topcats (Aylesbury) and Tower View (Staples Corner) a ring and see what they make of it.

[tubbystu]

GreenV8S said:

You're in luck because there are plenty of TVR specialists around London. If you're on the North side then give Topcats (Aylesbury) and Tower View (Staples Corner) a ring and see what they make of it.

And plenty on the south side too. Austec (nr Gatwick) did all my outriggers and re-waxolyed the chassis last winter.

[page3]

As others have said, both Austec and Tower View are no strangers to S outrigger replacement. Both would do a 'half body-off' if possible, significantly reducing the cost. Mine was done like this and that was for a front outrigger and some tubing under the driver-side door. I even got to keep the old bits...

[Tripps]

Give Andy at APM a call, he's got my V8S at the moment and what he's charging significantly undercut the other quote I was given for a bit of chassis work.

[moosetvr]

Hi,

If you bought the car from a chap in Swindon, then it was pretty rotten when I looked at it. The chap selling didnt know the outriggers where gone until I showed him the spot where I could put all four fingers into the top of the outrigger. I did some ringing aroung and got quotes of between £1000 and £1500.
Spoke to a chap in Milton Keynes who sounded that he new what he was doing (search outrigger in S series forum) and his name will come up.
Regards Moose

[Tripps]

moosetvr said:

I did some ringing aroung and got quotes of between £1000 and £1500.

£1500 seems to be the standard price quoted for a body lift and repair from what I can see, but you can get it cheaper.

Bear in mind the costs are pretty much all labour, removing carpets, body-bolts etc. so going somewhere where the rates are lower and ideally you have someone very experienced doing the job (rather than juniors who can't cope with rusty nuts...) which will likely work out far cheaper and is also likely to be done better.

[dog4]

I have left it in with Austec after making a few calls.

They will replace front & side outriggers, clean up the underside chassis (while the body is hoisted), repaint it all & waxoyl. Cost will be £1500.

Quotes were as bad as £1900. It may be possible to beat this, but you may not get specialist treatment.

Its pricey, but I think it will be a quality job

Thanks all
Tom